High Peak

High Peak's population grew older in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure, health and work life.

The population reached nearly 91,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of High Peak increased by 1.6%, from just over 89,400 to 90,900.

The addition of just under 1,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, High Peak was home to, on average, 1.2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was similar to the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older High Peak

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of High Peak increased by four years, from 39 to 43 years.

This affluent area had a higher average age than the East Midlands and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 3,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 4,000.

About 13% of people in High Peak are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and High Peak by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer homes with children

This area saw the East Midlands' second-largest fall in the proportion of households with children.

Across the region, only Rutland saw a greater fall in the proportion of households with children (from 29% to 26%).

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) households in High Peak had at least one dependent child, compared with 31% in 2001. The percentage with no children increased from 59% to 62%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households that with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in High Peak that rented privately increased from 7.5% to 13% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 13%, while the percentage of High Peak households that owner their home decreased from 77% to 72%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in High Peak increased by 5.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in High Peak, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of High Peak residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.7% to 5.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of High Peak residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in High Peak decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in High Peak, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in High Peak working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 10% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 14% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in High Peak decreased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in High Peak, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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